Dates affecting the establishment of Bethlehem Chapel

1794 It was customary for the Minister of the Baptist Chapel at Felinfoel (Ty Newydd, later Adulam) to preach in dwelling houses and farmhouses. One of the houses in Pwll that the Minister would visit was The Pant farmhouse, home of the Morgan family.

John Morgan, son of William Morgan of The Pant, married Rachel, daughter of Daniel Davies, the Minister of Felinfoel. This relationship led to frequent visits to Pwll where the Minister would hold a sermon for the benefit of the local inhabitants. Another place in Pwll where the Minister from Felinfoel would preach was in the house of David Jenkins, Gelli-Hir.

1799 Arminianism began to split the membership of Ty Newydd Baptist Chapel, Felinfoel. Arminus lived between 1560 and 1609 and disagreed with John Calvin’s belief that only the elected could obtain salvation. The Baptists of Felinfoel felt strongly about their religious beliefs and their views on baptisms were very strict.

1802 Elizabeth Morgan, The Pant, was baptised on 2nd August.

1803 Daniel Morgan, The Pant, was baptised on 5th June 1803.

1804-5 A revival of the Baptist movement was experienced in Ty Newydd, Felinfoel, and this led to 6 people being baptised on Pembrey Mountain on 23 June 1805. They were David and Elizabeth Rosser, Robert and Mary Harry and John and Elizabeth John of the Star Tavern. In less than a month another six people were baptised in the same place, Joseph Philip, David Evans, Mary Zacariah, Sarah Morris, Elizabeth Griffith and Elizabeth Evan. On 28 July 1805 Isaac Morgan, The Pant was baptised.

1806 Isaac Morgan’s wife, Mary Morgan was baptised followed by D Moss, Ty Waun.

All these references to baptisms indicate that there was a strong movement in Pwll. As there was no established chapel at Pwll the local Baptists formed part of Ty Newydd, Felinfoel.

1833 A document dated 27 December 1833 stated:

John Rees, Esq., & John Hughes Rees, DEMISED TO David Bowen a piece of Ground, One Rood and Six Perches in the Parish of Pembrey FOR A TERM of 999 years, FROM the 9th September last paying £1 0s 0d per annum for same for the first 60 years and £2 2s 0d per annum for the rest of the term.

PAYMENT to be made on 25th March and 29th September.

SIGNED BY John Rees, J H Rees, David Bowen, Smith, SWANSEA

The Solicitor involved was B S M Jones of Loughor and the document is stamped 20th October 1834.

David Bowen who signed the document on behalf of the Baptist Chapel at Pwll was the first Minister of Seion, Llanelli. He was a young man from Brynbach, near Felinfoel, who had been ordained in 1806 to help the Revd Daniel Davies (Felinfoel).

1837 Daniel Davies died in 1837 at the age of 81 and this was probably one of the main reasons why the Pwll Baptists split from Felinfoel. Another reason given for the breakaway movement of Baptists from Felinfoel was the establishment of the turnpike road between Llanelli and Pembrey. Each time anyone passed through the gate to go to chapel they had to pay at the tollgate. One man who went to Llanelli tried to avoid paying the toll fee by crossing the sands on his way home and perished when he was trapped in the quicksand. His body was found on the shoreline the following morning. The Baptists probably thought it prudent and financially beneficial to establish chapels in their own districts.

1839 A document dated 2 December 1839 in HM Court of Chancery between Revd D Bowen and David Morgan and Others assigned the Chapel and Premises at Pembrey upon trust for a Society of Particular or Calvinistic Baptists. The Revd David Bowen from Seion, probably found he had enough to do to cope with his flock at Llanelli without worrying about the growing flock at Pwll.

1839 The History of the Baptists in South Wales compiled by David Jones and published in Carmarthen in 1839 refers to Ty Newydd, Felinfoel as being instrumental in building or owning five meeting houses, Ty-yn-y-Mynydd; Soar (Llwynhendy), Sardis (formed by 59 members of Llanedi, Llannon and Pontardulais), Horeb (Five Roads), and Bethlehem (Pembrey).

Bethlehem was a branch of Ty Newydd although Mr David Bowen (Seion) went there quite often. There was no Minister at Ty Newydd at that time because Daniel Davies had died in 1837, but there were five assistants:

(1) Bethlehem existed in 1839

(2) It was regarded as a branch of Felinfoel

(3) Although a branch of Felinfoel it was in the care of David Bowen (Seion)

(4) Pwll was not being used as the name of the district.

(5) William Rogers, aged 34, was named as assistant preacher; and had been baptised 10 years earlier in 1829.

1854 William Rogers (assistant preacher in 1839) was appointed the first Minister of Bethlehem in 1854.

First Record Book:

1856 2 June - Number of members 41 - Number of School 60

1858 Debt £20 - Number of members 48 - Number of School 95

1859 Number of members 63 - Number of School 100

1860 Collection for passing through the gate when bringing the pulpit from Felinfoel, 8d and 3d to W Hugh 11d.

Collection August 1860 towards paying for bringing the pulpit from Felinfoel 7: 6d.

Payment to Richard Morgan for returning the pulpit (after 9th December) 4: 4d.

From records available it would seem that the Baptist movement was active in the Pwll area at the end of the 18th century. Bethlehem was established from Ty Newydd (Adulam) Felinfoel, the first chapel was built in 1834 and Seion was responsible for the leases.

The first Minister was appointed in 1854.

Sincere thanks are given to Mr Hugh Peregrine, Pwll, for providing the booklet about Bethlehem and to Mr Ivor Griffiths of Penyrheol for providing the translation from Welsh to English.